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Abstract

Background:

Opioids can exert adverse effects on the body. Morphine, an opioid drug,
reduces hormone levels and fertility, and causes sexual activity disorders. Tribulus terrestris
(TT) is a traditional herbal medicine used to enhance sexual activities. This study
investigates the possible role of TT on sex hormones and gonadotropins with the intent to
show its usefulness in treating fertility disorders in opioid users.

Materials and Methods:

In this experimental study, we randomly divided 48 rats into
four groups: i. control, ii. TT-treated, iii. addicted and iv. TT-treated addicted. Watersoluble
morphine was administrated orally for 21 days to induce addiction, after which
the treated groups 2 and 4 received plant-mixed pelleted food (6.25%) orally for four
weeks. At the end of the treatment period, the sex hormone and gonadotropin levels of all
rats’ sera were determined by radioimmunoassay and Elisa kits. The data obtained were
statistically analyzed using the one-way analysis of variance, followed by post-hoc Tukey
test. P<0.05 was considered significant.

Results:

The addicted group had a significantly lower luteinizing hormone (LH) level
than the control group (p<0.027). LH levels increased significantly in the TT-treated addicted
group (p<0.031). The testosterone level in the treated addicted group was lower
than the treated control group. The addicted group had a significantly low testosterone
level (p<0.001). The estrogen level was significantly (p<0.002) lower in the addicted
group than in the control group. In addition, there was a significant difference between
the treated addicted group and the treated control group (p<0.048). The treated control
group had a significant increase in its progesterone level (p<0.002). Overall, except for
follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), morphine reduced most of the gonadotropins and
sexual hormones. Whereas TT caused a considerable increase (p<0.05) in the hormones
in the treated addicted group, there was only a slight increase in the treated control group.

Conclusion:

Oral consumption of TT could markedly antagonize the reduction of sex
hormones and gonadotropins (except for FSH) due to morphine addiction.